I need some help solving a family mystery. I originally thought I was the 4th generation to own this watch but I am beginning to think that I am the 5th.

I was told that this was my great-grandfathers watch that he carried until he passed away in 1957. This makes sense since the case back is engraved with a "J" and his name was John.

When I researched the production date of the movement 277096 I found out that it was made in 1890 which is the year of my great-grandfathers birth. Is it possible he was given this watch as a baby or could it have been his father's watch and was then given to him? John's father's name was Patrick so the initials are not the same, but maybe the case was never engraved or my great-grandfather re-cased the movement.

Can anyone tell by the numbers on the case back what year the case was made?

Also Patrick was a farmer and worked for the railroad as well.

I love the watch, its connection to my family and I would never want to get rid of it, but I am curios as to its complete history.

As people have said before, if these ladies could talk the stories, they would tell.

Any help you could provide would be great.

Mike

The back, worn but the stories!

First pick of the movement

The movement and the number on the case.

Inside of the case back.

One without the bezel.

Hi Michael

I have a similar story to a watch that belonged to my wife's grandfather, but it too was made the year he was born so I wondered the same, that perhaps it was his fathers.

The ships wheel symbol & the word Pilot were registered as a trademark for the Wadsworth Watch Case. Co. & was registered May 19, 1914. However the symbol may have been used before they registered it.

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Michael and Tom...it is conceivable that they were given the watches at an early age after the watches had belonged to another family member as you both suggest. The personalization may have been done at that time, too.

My mother-in-law was given an Elgin 0 size watch on her first birthday in 1924 by a wealthy couple who owned a yacht. Her father used to captain the yacht whenever they felt the urge to take a trip. (Must be nice!) Of course her father held the watch for her until she was old enough to take care of it.

Mike,

Maybe your Great Great Grandfather bought it to honor the birth of his son John.

Steve

I was thinking the same thing. It sounds like we now have three examples of people being given a pocket watch in honor of their birth.

Mike

Another possibility to consider is that your great grandfather may have bought the watch second hand.